Pre-op
Formal Definition
The preoperative period and associated processes: clinical evaluation, risk stratification, anesthesia clearance, consent, medication reconciliation, and preparatory orders completed before a surgical procedure.
How It's Used on the Ward
"Pre-op the patient" or "pre-op workup is done" — the set of tasks that must be completed before surgery can proceed.
Example
""Surgery scheduled for 7am: pre-op checklist — consent signed, allergy confirmed, NPO since midnight, type and screen resulted, beta-blocker held, antibiotic prophylaxis ordered. Anesthesia pre-op assessment: cleared for general.""
Clinical Context
Pre-op clearance is not a single test — it is a clinical judgment that the patient's risk is acceptable. "Medical clearance" is a misnomer; internists and cardiologists perform risk stratification, not clearance (no physician can guarantee a safe outcome). Standard pre-op tasks: medication review (hold anticoagulants, NSAIDs, metformin; continue beta-blockers, statins, antiepileptics), airway assessment, cardiac risk (RCRI), anesthesia type discussion. Ask what NPO status means for each patient's medications.